A flight takes off from Vancouver International Airport on March 24, 2026. Photo: VCG

The Canadian government announced on Monday local time an "incremental increase" to the number of direct flights permitted between Canada and China, as Ottawa aims to promote trade diversification, strengthen supply chains, boost tourism and help fuel Canada's economic growth, according to an official press release. 

A Chinese expert said that the move is conducive to further enhancing people-to-people and trade exchanges between China and Canada, and reflects Ottawa's determination to boost cooperation and exchanges with China amid complex international economic and trade relations.

Canadian and Chinese airlines will be allowed to incrementally increase direct passenger-combination flights, and to conduct up to 20 all-cargo flights per week, according to a press release on the Government of Canada website, with "reciprocal access to all points in each country."

Building on Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to Beijing earlier this year, this measure delivers on the Canada-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Roadmap and supports the renewal of Canada's economic relationship with China, the press release said.

"Increasing passenger and cargo flights with China is a very positive step towards our trade diversification goals while also reinforcing our strong people-to-people ties. We are giving Canadian travellers more choice and more convenience while growing our commercial relationship with China," Canadian Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon was quoted as saying in the release.

Flights between the two countries have shown an upward trend. Data from industry information provider VariFlight sent to the Global Times on Tuesday showed that between March 21 and April 20, the number of flights operated between the Chinese mainland and Canada was 305, a 21 percent increase compared to the same period in 2025.

"The Canadian side's move is a positive step," Li Yong, an executive council member of the China Society for WTO Studies, told the Global Times on Tuesday. He said that against the backdrop of complex global economic and trade relations, Canada's efforts to actively enhance people-to-people exchanges and trade cooperation are clear, as increased cooperation with China will make important contributions to Canada's economic and market development.

"If Canada continues to work with the Chinese side, the healthy development of bilateral trade and closer economic and trade cooperation is expected," Li said.

Since the start of 2026, there have been frequent exchanges between Chinese and Canadian officials and businesses. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney paid an official visit to China from January 14 to 17, marking the first trip to China by a Canadian Prime Minister in eight years. During the visit, Carney said Canada will initially allow in up to 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles at a tariff of 6.1 percent on most-favored nation terms.

During Canadian Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne's visit to China in early April, the two sides agreed to hold a China-Canada Economic and Financial Strategic Dialogue in the second half of this year, the Xinhua News Agency reported on April 3.

At this year's China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE), which just concluded in Haikou, South China's Hainan Province, on April 18, Canada was the guest country of honor. This year, Canada organized its largest-ever delegation, with about 40 companies participating in sectors including cosmetics, agricultural products, health products and pet food.

"We're very excited to be here as the guest country of honor… As a Chinese consumer market grows, there are 1.4 billion consumers. That's very important for Canada," Canadian Minister of International Trade Maninder Sidhu told the Global Times during the CICPE.